Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
Thomas Edison, in talking about inventing, is quoted as saying, “the first step is an intuition—and comes with a burst—then difficulties arise.”
To me this is similar to the bursts of inspiration and motivation we sometimes get when writing. The trouble is that the burst subsides and “difficulties arise.”
Edison is famous and became successful because he persisted through the difficulties. He never gave up just because the burst of intuition and motivation was gone. I think one of the ways we can do the same is to expect difficulties. To actively anticipate them, so that they don’t catch us off guard.
I sometimes joke that this can be thought of as “negative thinking.” I’m naturally an optimist, but when I “think negative,” I honestly assess the difficulties, challenges or obstacles that may be in front of me. I attempt to understand any potential risks or pitfalls in my path. Wherever I’m headed, whatever my goals might be, I can’t afford to be unreservedly positive.
There are several clear advantages to “negative thinking,” including:
♦ When you’re focused on “thinking positive,” you may not be adequately prepared for the challenges of your journey, and therefore fail to meet them successfully.
♦ Thinking through the negatives keeps you from being overly surprised or disappointed when things don’t go as you’d hoped or planned.
♦ You are more likely to avoid magical thinking. (“I WILL meet my deadline, I will, I will!” As the deadline flies right by.)
♦ If you can honestly acknowledge possible negatives and keep going, then you’re probably on a path that’s right for you.
♦ When you’re realistic about potential challenges, you are often pleasantly surprised at the smoothness of your path.
♦ If you’re “thinking positive,” you may be inclined to think your path is going to be easier than it really is, so you won’t allow enough time to accomplish the goal, and you may not have enough diligence or discipline to get it done.
There are countless ways to apply “negative thinking” to the writing life:
♦ Instead of telling yourself simply, “I’m going to get published,” you realistically assess the obstacles and tell yourself, “I’m going to work hard, be persistent, and bust through all the barriers, and eventually get published.”
♦ Instead of telling yourself, “I know thousands of people are going to want to buy my book,” you look at how many people publish books with little success, then determine, “I’m going to pull out all the stops marketing my book so that anyone who might like it will have the opportunity to buy it.”
Don’t get me wrong — I’m not disputing the value of positive thinking. I do it all the time! But the key to success is realistic optimism — what I’ve been referring to here as “thinking negative.” Bring reality into your positive thinking, for a much brighter chance of reaching your goals.
Do you believe in “thinking negative” sometimes? How can it help you in pursuing your goals?
Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash
Excellent advice, Rachelle. “Realistic optimism” is a good term for the effort it takes to turn a dream into reality, whether in writing or in other pursuits. Assessing and preparing for possible challenges is vital to success. Thanks for the reminder.
Colour me a magical thinker, now and forever.
All I have’s a distant somehow,
that some way, my star will rise,
and I will yet refuse to kowtow
to that demon in my skies.
Screams woke my wife in the dismal night
and in bleakness came the bleeding dawn,
robbed by pain of all delight;
can it be the time, now, of moving on?
Tempted to the pagan captivity
of believing myself to be forsaken
I determine to rise like a bad martini,
deeply stirred, but never shaken.
To the apostles eyes black despair would loom;
then God’s magic thought, and the Empty Tomb.
Andrew, I have found all your poems moving, but this one is especially so. Your faith is inspiring.
Elissa, thank you so very, very much. Your kind words have eased the darkness of a very rough day, and I am grateful that you took the time to say them.
“If you’re ‘thinking positive,’ you may be inclined to think your path is going to be easier than it really is, so you won’t allow enough time to accomplish the goal, and you may not have enough diligence or discipline to get it done.”
I find that to be so true, Rachelle. I’m a positive thinker, too, but the longer I’m in the writing and publishing business, the more I realize that the people who survive are those who can be positive and still consider and manage the negatives. For instance, a writer gets an edit back and realizes that the book isn’t quite the masterpiece he’d thought. Does he indie publish, certain his editor is a hack? Does he give up writing altogether? Or does he buckle down and work harder? The ones who survive are those who buckle down and work harder. We have to allow the negatives to penetrate so we can deal with them and overcome them.
Great way to look at it. Thanks!
I loved this! Yes! I think whenever we follow a dream or calling, we set out to fight a war on an unseen battlefield. If we would constantly make ourselves aware of the dangers, we would be paralyzed and never set out. But if we set out never entertaining the thought of the harm, we’d walk blindly into traps. We must do both, be confident and careful, bold yet aware. Great reminder! Thank you, Rachelle!
I am learning that this is about setting a course for myself and working through the challenges instead of getting hung up when I have to do something outside my comfort zone. It is staying the course and being prepared for frustrations and setbacks that separates the successful writers from the others.
I think of Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
We have to consider that there will be obstacles, just like Rachelle wrote. And we have to consider if we have enough believing, determination and discipline to finish. It’s not pleasant, but it’s not a perfect world, and Rachelle’s observations are very practical and helpful. Thank you!
I like that, Marsha . . . believing, determination and discipline.
If we ever doubt the power of positive thinking, Edison’s story is a good example to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2VzLa7d26w